Arrangement for controlling the voltage of alternating current circuits



o. WERNER 2,229,950 ARRANGEMENT FOR CONTROLLING THE VOLTAGE OF ALTERNATING CURRENT CIRCUITS Jan. 28, 1941.

Filed March 7, 1940 INVENTOR 0350 J VEz/7ez:

BY M, J:

ATTORNEY WITNESSES! Patented Jan. 28, 1941 UNITED STATES ARRANGEMENT FOR CONTROLLING THE VOLTAGE OF ALTERNATING CURRENT CIRCUITS Otto Werner, Beriin-Klein-Machnow, Germany,

assignor to Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Compa y, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania I Application March 7, 1940, Serial No. 322,799 In Germany February 14, 1939 4 Claims.

This invention relates to means for controlling the voltage drop across reactance devices of the saturable core type in which unidirectional fluxes are superimposed on the alternating current fluxes in the core structure.

In accordance with the invention, reactors of the saturable core type may be reduced to twothirds of the size of those usually employed by causing the direct current that is used to estab lish the superimposed unidirectional flux to now through the alternating current winding of the reactance device instead of through the usual direct current saturating winding.

It is an object of my invention to provide a 15 variable reactor of the saturable core type in which the unidirectional current for controlling the magnetic saturation of the core is superimposed on the alternating current winding of the reactor.

90 It is a further object of the invention to provide a variable reactor of the above indicated type in which the unidirectional current for controlling the magnetic saturation of the core is derived from the alternating current circuit that 25 is being controlled by the reactor.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of certain preferred embodiments thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing,

30 in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of circuit and apparatus illustrating one embodiment of the invention, and

Figs. 2, 3, and 4 are diagrammatic views of 35 various modified forms of the invention.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawing, a simplifled circuit is illustrated in which electrical energy is supplied from a source represented by conductors i and 2 to a load device 3 as con- 40 trolled by a reactance device 4 having a winding 5, connected in circuit with the load device, and a core I of magnetic material inductively related to the winding 5. The reactive voltage drop across the winding 5 is controlled by varying the 45 degree of saturation of the magnetic material of the core-by controlling the flow of a unidirectional component of current through an impedance 1 that is shown as a resistor connected in series circuit relation with the winding 5. An electric valve 8 shown as a dry type rectifier element is connected by conductors 9 and vii in parallel circuit relation to the series circuit including the winding 5 and the resistor 1. The impedance of the rectifier I is dependent upon 55 the polarity of voltage applied to it, the rectifier permitting the ready flow of current from conductor Ii to conductor 9 and otlering a high impedance to the flow of current in the opposite direction. One-half wave of the alternating current flowing through the winding is, therefore,

larger than the other half wave, thus establishing a unidirectional flow of current through the winding 5 produced by the predominating or larger half wave for controlling the degree of saturation of the core 6. This predominating 5 half wave or effective unidirectional current through the winding 5 may be regulated by varying the impedance 1 to control the voltage im pressed across the rectifier 8. A capacitor 12 is connected in shunt relation to the impedance element 1 and in series circuit relation with the winding 5 in order that the variation in the value of the resistor 1 will efifect only the unidirectional component of current through the winding 5 and permit the alternating current 15 component to be substantially unaffected.

Fig. 2'illustrates circuits and apparatus comprising a practical application of the principle illustrated in Fig. 1 in which alternating current is supplied from the circuit conductors i4 and i5 to a load device represented by the transformer ii in which the reactance device for controlling the circuit consists of two windings i1 and I8 connected in parallel circuit relation to each other in the alternating current circuit and associated with cores i9 and 20, respectively, shown as separate core structures. The windings i1 and I! are connected at one end directly to the alternating current conductor i4 and at their opposite ends two conductors 2i and 22, respectively, between which two sets of rectifier units are illustrated as connected, one set comprising the units 23 and 24 and the other set comprising the units 25 and 26. The midpoint between the rectiflers 25 and 26 is connected by conductor 21 to the load device it and through it to the other alternating current supply conductor IS.

A regulating impedance shown as a resistor 25 is connected in parallel relation to the two sets of rectifier units between conductors 2i and 22. In addition, condensers 29 and 30 are also connected in parallel to the rectifier units 23 and 24. respectively, the conductor 3| connecting the midpoints between the two condensers and the two rectifiers of the set. The condensers 29 and 5 30 prevent the potential across the rectifier units from becoming too high.

During the half cycle in which the conductor i4 is positive and the conductor i5 is negative, current will flow through the winding ll of the reactance device and the rectifier 25 to the conductor 21 and through the load device I 6 to the conductor l5. Since this current flow is appreciable, the voltage drop across the winding i1 is appreciable. Since, however, the rectifier 25 pre- 5 vents the flow of current from conductor I through winding it to conductor 21 during this half cycle of operation, the voltage drop across the winding i8 is small, thus maintaining the conductor 22 at substantially the same potential so as the conductor II or positive with respect to the conductor 2|. Current through the resistor 28 will therefore flow from conductor 22 to the conductor 2| and also through the windings l8 and I1. During the half cycle of operation in which the conductor i5 is positive with respect to the conductor I4, current will flow from the conductor l5 through the load device it, conductor 21, rectifier 28, and reactor winding i8 to the conductor l8. During this half cycle of operation the voltage drop across the winding 18 is appreciable while the voltage drop across the winding i1 is slight so that the potential of the conductor 2| is substantially the same as the conductor i8. However, since the conductor 22 is positive with respect to the conductor 2!, current flows during both halt cycles of the alternating current wave from the conductor 22 to the conductor 2| .both through the resistor 28 and through the windings l8 and ii in series. The greater the value of the impedance 28 the greater will be the potential diflerence between conductors 22 and 2 l, and consequently the greater will be the flow of unidirectional current through the windings l8 and II for controlling the degree of saturation of the core members I8 and 28 which, in turn, control the reactive drop across the windings l1 and I8.

Fig. 3 shows an arrangement of circuits and apparatus for applying regulating reactance devices to polyphase circuits. The reactance devices having windings l1 and H! are connected in circuit with each or the three phase circuit conductors ll, 42, and 43 in the same manner as shown in Fig. 2, the opposite ends of the windings being connected to conductors 48 and 45 between which three sets of dry type rectifier units are connected, each unit consisting ottwo rectifiers 48, 81; 48, 48; and 50, 5|, respectively. The outgoing three phase conductors 52, 58, and 58 are, respectively, connected from a point between the two rectifier units of each set. The condenser 55 is connected between the conductors 48 and 85 and a regulating impedance shown as a resistor 58 is likewise connected between conductors 44 and 45 in parallel relation to the condenser 55 and to the three sets of rectifier units. The condenser 55 and the impedance device 56 perform functions similar to the condensers 29 and 80 and the impedance device 28 shown in Fig. 2 to control the potential between conductors 44 and 85 to control the flow of unidirectional current through the windings i8 and H in series for varying the magnetic saturation of the core structures l8 and 28.

In-Fig. 4 another arrangement of circuits and apparatus suitable for use with a three phase system is illustrated in which one reactor winding only is connected in each phase of the polyphase circuit. In the drawing the three phase conductors 8|, 82, and 88 are connected directly to the primary windings 84, 85, and 88, respectively, of transformers representing load devices, and also the primary windings !,serles transformers 81, 88, and 88. The three reactance devices comprising windings I2, 18, and "and their associated saturable cores are connected in a polygon network in delta relation between the three phase circuit conductors through conductors I8, 18, I1, and I8 and including in this network circuit three sets of electric valves or dry type rectifiers 8i, 82, and 88, each set consisting of two rectifiers to the midpoint of which conducmrs 84, 85, and 88, respectively, are connected for supplying alternating current thereto from the secondary windings oi the series transformers 81, 88, and 89. The alternating current from the series transformers develops a unidirectional current which flows from the rectifier units 8 I 82, and 83 through the reactor windings 14, I3, and 12 in series for the purpose oi supplying a unidirectional saturating component to these devices.

-As in the other illustrated embodiments, a capacitor 81 and a variable impedance device shown as a resistor 88 are connected in parallel relation to the rectifier units between conductors l and T8. The impedance device 88 may be varied for the purpose of controlling the amount of unidirectional current flowing from the rectiflers through the network circuit including wlndings I2, 18, and I4. 1

It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that other modifications of circuits and apparatus from those described may be made within the spirit of my invention, and I ,do not wish to be limited otherwise than by the scope of the appended claims. 4

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, an alternating current circuit to be regulated, reactance means for con-:

trolling the flow of current in said circuit and comprising two reactor windings connected in parallel in the alternating circuit and each provided with a core of magnetic material, and means for varying the reactance of said reactance means comprising means for circulating unidirectional current through the two reactor windings in series.

2. In combination, an alternating current circult to be regulated, reactance means for controlling the flow of current in said circuit and comprising two reactor windings connected in parallel in the alternating circuit and each provided with a core of magnetic material, and means for varying the reactance of said reactance 'means comprising rectifier units connected between said reactor windings for supplying unidirectional current in opposite directions therethrough.

3. In combination, an alternating current circuit to be regulated, reactance means for controlling the flow of current in said circuit and comprising two reactor windings connected in parallel in the alternating circuit and each provided with a core of magnetic material, means .for varying the reactance of said reactance means comprising dry type rectifier units connected between said reactor windings for supplying unidirectional current in opposite directions therethrough, and variable impedance means connected in parallel circuitrelation to the rectifier units.

4. In combination, an alternating current circuit to be regulated, reactance meansior controlling the flow of current in said circuit and;

comprising two reactor windings connected in parallel in the alternating circuit and each provided with a core of magnetic material; means for varying the reactance of said reactance means comprising dry type rectifier units connected between said reactor windings for supplying unidirectional current in opposite directions there through, variable impedance means connected in parallel circuit relation to the rectifier units, and

electric capacitors connected in parallel circuit relation to the rectifier units and the variable impedance means.

OTTO WERNER. 

